• Thursday 22nd October - Footy Colours Free Dress - Donate Here
• Friday 30th October - Day For Daniel - Wear something red - Donate Here
• Friday 23rd October - Victorian Public Holiday
• Tuesday 3rd November - Victorian Public Holiday
• Friday 18th December - Last day of Term 4 (1:30pm finish)

PUPIL FREE DAYS

• Monday 2nd November, 2020

TERM DATES

• 2020 TERM 4: Monday 5th October - Friday 18th December (1:30pm finish)
• 2021 TERM 1: Wednesday 27th January Teachers start (All students start Thursday 28th January) - Thursday 1st April (2:30pm finish)
• 2021 TERM 2: Monday 19th April - Friday 25th June (2:30pm finish)
• 2021 TERM 3: Monday 12th July - Friday 17th September (2:30pm finish)
• 2021 TERM 4: Monday 4th October - Friday 17th December (1:30pm finish)

2021 CAMP DATES

• Year 3: Arrabri Lodge Camp - Wednesday 4th August to Friday 6th August
• Year 4: Anglesea Recreation Camp - Monday 17th May to Wednesday 19th May
• Year 5: Lady Northcote Recreation Camp - Tuesday 5th October to Friday 8th October
• Year 6: Canberra Camp - Monday 24th May to Friday 28th May

WELCOME BACK I write on Wednesday evening, reflecting on the first three days ‘back’ for all of our students. It has been an amazing week. It has been so uplifting to see all of our students back on deck, and for all of us to experience and share so many changes and stories. My heartiest congratulations to students and staff for the brilliant way they have adapted to the new rules and regulations governing us, and for the fabulous attitude towards teaching and learning in these Covid times.

Fourteen classes found themselves in new or changed accommodation from when we were last all on site together, with the Grade 5 and 6 classes loving their new building, with the Grade 1 classes relishing the new found space on the top level of the Foundation/Grade 1 building, and with two Grade 3 classes now in the portable on Winston Road. With specialist programs in STEM, Japanese and Music back in their old ‘homes’, so much has returned to normal (albeit the new normal!), very quickly.

Monday’s start seemed like the start of the school year – I witnessed ‘first day’ photos being taken, and something akin to the Myer Boxing Day Stocktake Sale at the front gate as 8.45am ticked over. Great to see. I was even greeted with a huge ‘Woo-hoo!’ from one of our dads as the passenger window wound down as he and his wife drove off. Nothing personal, I’m sure, but something of elation that things are slowly returning to normal.

Thanks again for the high level of compliance and respect shown from our parent community with regards arrangements made for collection and drop-off of students. The staggering of these times and arrangements made with gates, as well as the continued adherence to masks and physical distancing ensures we are doing our job and diminishes the likelihood of any return to remote learning. Everyone wants onsite learning to remain!

Please don’t be offended if you cannot access the schoolgrounds at will, or if you find a gate locked at 8.44am in the morning. We all understand the reasons for the processes in place at the moment.

INTENTIONS TO LEAVE And so, we turn to ‘routine’ things. Term 4 is always dominated with planning for 2021 – grade and staff selection, budgets, enrolments and more. In the first instance, it would be extremely helpful to us that if any family intending to leave our school community in 2021 because of relocation or other reason, advises us as soon as possible. A phone call to the office, or an email to the school or my email account asap would be most appreciated.

ENROLMENTS And on the same ‘numbers’ theme, whilst we think we have nearly all of our current family enrolments for 2021, if there is anyone out there who hasn’t completed the enrolment process yet, please do so asap.

GRADE REQUESTS Each year at this time, we seek input from families with regards to the placement of students into classes for the following year (if that is necessary). It’s somewhat different this year. As I write, most of our students have only spent about 12 weeks with their 2020 grades, and there is a body of thought that suggests most grades should simply move up to the next year ‘as is’.

Having said that there might be some limited circumstances initiating a parental grade request. Please think carefully about this and if you really do feel a need to inform us of these circumstances then do let us know.

As I say each year at this time, at this stage, we have not assigned teachers to grade levels for next year, and in fact still need to select a few teachers to fill those roles next year. There are no guarantees that teachers currently teaching at certain grade levels will be teaching there next year, as leadership needs to take into consideration a range of factors including the development of our teaching staff and teacher preferences before this allocation is completed. Having said that, if there are special circumstances that we need to know about, you are welcome to let us know of these.

Such special circumstances might include but are not limited to health, emotional or learning matters, peer or sibling relationships or changes in the home situation. Selecting a particular teacher does not fit within the realm of special circumstances, and if your request includes that information it will be denied. Information requiring our consideration needs to be addressed to ‘The Principal’ and emailed to the office by Friday, November 6. Please title the email “CONFIDENTIAL – GRADE REQUEST’. Please note that emails received after this date will NOT be accepted.

PARENT OPINION SURVEY Your family is invited to participate in the 2020 Parent Opinion Survey. Each year the school conducts an opinion survey amongst a sample of the school community. This year, all parents are invited to participate. Results will be used to inform and direct our future school planning and improvement. It is an online survey and full details are attached to this week’s newsletter.

That’s it for me this week. Enjoy your weekends and Sunday’s press conference will surely have us all tuned in.

Kind regards,

Bill Kersing

Principal

Term 4 Welcome back everyone! We hope you have had a smooth return and you are settling back into your morning routines.

Day For Daniel - Friday 30th October On Friday, 30th October, we are participating in ‘Day For Daniel’ (see https://danielmorcombefoundation.com.au/day-for-daniel )

As done for the last few years, Viewbank Primary School will be participating in Day for Daniel. The Day for Daniel is a National Day of Action to raise awareness of child safety, protection and harm prevention. It is about educating children and adults about keeping kids safe through child safety and protection initiatives. It aims to help empower our children to Recognise, React and Report if they feel something is not right.

We are encouraging all students to wear something red on Friday 30th October. In the past we have asked for a gold coin donation, but in 2020, if you would like to donate, please go to https://danielmorcombe.com.au/donate and donate directly to the foundation.

We will be watching Australia’s Largest Child Safety Lesson, something that approximately 4000 schools and Early Childhood Centres will be doing as well. You can find more information about Day for Daniel at https://danielmorcombefoundation.com.au

2020 Term 4 Reports Term 4 is always busy with student assessment and teachers writing reports. However, 2020 is going to be a little different. As mentioned in the attachment in last week’s Viewbank Voice, Literacy and Numeracy are our main focus for academic learning in Term 4.

The Department of Education and Training has recently adjusted the expectations around student reporting for Semester 2 in recognition of the continued disruption caused by COVID-19. While we have continued to deliver a teaching and learning program and monitor the learning of each student, we have adjusted our usual program to reflect the recent period of remote and flexible delivery.

Viewbank Primary School will therefore provide a simplified written report for the parent/carer of each student enrolled at the school for Semester 2, 2020 focusing on what progress has been made and what has been achieved by each child.

Reports will include:

• a description of the areas of the Victorian Curriculum taught;
• a comment on student participation and engagement in the learning program offered;
• for English and Mathematics: student achievement information and a five-point scale.
• for all other curriculum areas taught: a short comment on progress and achievement across the semester

Our teachers always do their best to provide you with the most accurate report of your child’s learning that they can. There is no time for teachers to write reports throughout the school day, teachers write these after the school day and on weekends – a big commitment particularly as the weather starts to warm up and the craziness of the Christmas season fast approaches – even in 2020! If you are ever concerned about how your child is progressing, please make contact with their teacher via the office. Reports are expected to be made available to parents via Compass in the last week of Term 4 – date to be confirmed!

Patrick

Last term in the newsletter, we reported on a group of 6W students who had each submitted a 90-second video statement they would make to Parliament if they were an MP. They each spoke about an issue they felt is affecting their community.

We are extremely proud and excited to announce that AVAH HADJIGEORGIOU has been awarded 1st Place in the Years 5-6 category for the 2020 Parliament Prize.

Avah spoke very passionately about supporting the mental health of children during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. She obviously impressed the judging panel with her well researched and articulate presentation, clearly conveying her concerns and thoughts on how to best support the ongoing mental health needs of children.

The Parliament Prize competition allows students to stand up and have the courage to speak up about what is important to them and this year, there was a record field of approximately 750 entries from students across Victoria.

The finalist judging panel was made up of Members of Parliament, teachers and Parliamentary staff.

All the winners details, including the announcement of Avah’s first place and her winning video, can be viewed on the Parliament’s Facebook Page and the Parliament Education website.

Sadly, the presentation ceremony at Parliament House cannot go ahead this year.

Avah will instead be presented with her trophy and cheque for $500.00 in a ceremony at school. Viewbank Primary School will also be receiving $1000.00 which we will be using to expand our Civics and Citizenship education programs.

A big thank you to Pete Walker for supporting the students’ participation in the 2020 Parliament Prize.

WELCOME BACK It has been wonderful to have all the students and staff back on site this week. There has certainly been a continual buzz around the school as our students reconnect with friends and classmates, explore their new classrooms and playground and get back to the excitement of learning face to face with their teachers. In the classroom, students are focussing on Literacy, Numeracy and wellbeing as well as attending specialist lessons. All specialist lessons are currently running in 90 minute blocks to reduce the number of daily contacts between specialist staff and students, so students will attend PE, Japanese STEM, Art or Performing Arts once a fortnight.

I certainly hope all our parents and carers have been able to enjoy a calmer atmosphere at home this week after your mammoth effort during remote learning.

JUNIOR SCHOOL COUNCIL BADGE PRESENTATIONS The JSC representatives for semester 2 were presented with their badges on Wednesday afternoon by Mr Kersing. Each student had their photo taken and these will be made available to the parents shortly. The JSC have scheduled their first fundraising day for Thursday 22 October when all students will be invited to come to school wearing their footy/sports team colours.

Congratulations to all our JSC representatives.

Enjoy your week

Gill

New Term 4 School Crossing Supervision Times

• 8:30am to 9:15am
• 3:00pm to 3:45pm

Late Arrivals The gates will be locked at 9.20am, if you arrive after this time please go to the Main Gate, Gate 1 on Nevin Parade and call the office and a staff member will meet your child at the gate.

Early Leavers If you need to collect your child early please call the office and a staff member will arrange for your child to meet you at the Main Gate, Gate 1 on Nevin Parade.

Classroom Cuisine Classroom Cuisine lunch orders will not be offered at school for the remainder of this year.

Thank you

Lucy Addati

Business Manager

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On Thursday the 22nd of October we will be having a Sports Clothes Day. We invite you to come to school dressed in any Team or Sport Colours that you support. Students will complete an activity in class with their teacher to celebrate. In lieu of a gold coin donation, please use the link below to donate to Live for Lily. Live for Lily raises funds to support research into childhood cancers.

Thank you

JSC Team

I was over the moon when I found out that I was the winner of the 2020 Year 5/6 Parliament Prize.

Entering the competition was something I had gone back and forth in my mind about from the start. Mr Walker had shared with us the details and I thought it was a great idea to enter. But, then the reality of doing it, whilst at home, with homeschooling and all the distractions and disappointments of Covid - 19 lockdowns, I became unsure of myself and anxious about taking on anything extra.

Because of these feelings and being unsure, I had a long chat with my parents and Mr Walker. They helped me understand a new way of thinking and perspective. With my new mindset, I decided that I would go ahead with an entry but, with a new topic. One that was closer to home, as I was sure I wasn’t alone in the feelings and struggles I was having during this time.

I guess I just want to tell my school peers that even if you do go through feelings of disbelief or you are unsure of yourself, reach out and talk to someone. Whether that’s your parents, a teacher, friends or family members, anyone that you trust. Sometimes expressing yourself and listening to someone else’s take on things, will help you just the way you need it. It’ll help you reset, believe in yourself and put yourself out there to achieve anything you want!

Thank you Mr Walker for assisting me with my entry and congratulations to all the Viewbank applicants. You all did an amazing job and should be proud.

Avah Hadjigeorgiou

2021 TRANSITION PROGRAM We are still accepting enrolment forms. Please email your enrolment form or drop it to us at the school.

PHONE NUMBER: 0448 075 422

EMAIL: viewbank@oshclub.com.au

Uniforms can be purchased online at www.aplusschoolwear.com.au with one of three delivery options:

• Free collection in store during trading hours
• Postage to address of customer’s choosing, at $12.50 for two items or less, or $17.50 for three items or more
• Free delivery to school, to an existing student at Viewbank Primary. Please note, this option is not available if the customer does not already have a student at the school

Hi everyone!

My name is Emma, a fellow parent from Viewbank PS and wanted to reach out regarding a book I have written.

Although being in lockdown hasn't been great fun for anyone, this experience has allowed me to explore a passion of mine, to champion positive mental health through a picture book aimed at young children.

The purpose of this book is to build awareness around anxiety in young children, provide them with some simple coping strategies and encourage dialogue with adults.

6.9% of children and young people aged 4-17 years have suffered from anxiety in the last 12 months - prior to COVID. And we know this number has no doubt seen an increase (Source: Beyond Blue). That is why this book is so important to me.

I can't wait for it to be published and am now taking pre-orders for delivery before Christmas. If you would like a copy please email me at emma_macey@ymail.com

You can also follow the journey and find out more information on Facebook or Instagram @matildaandthebear

Price is $24.99 + $8.95 delivery.

Thank you,

Emma x